Samantha McIntosh

Samantha comes from a show jumping family, with her mother Penny Stevenson an internationally known showjumping instructor. Sam has based and competed in Europe since she was 18 years old, and in her early years rode under the Bulgarian flag. During this period, Sam rode at Sydney Olympics and a World Cup final in Las Vegas, European Championships at Arnhem, Manheim, Hickstead, Donaueschingen and San Patrigano. She rode at the World Championships in Jerez and Aachen and after changing back to the kiwi banner, at Kentucky.

Sam changed back to NZ nationality and relocated back to her hometown of Cambridge, New Zealand. At Chestnut Glade, she spent three years building up her own sports horse stable, ran her team of showjumpers and became very involved in coaching. Sam utilised her extensive knowledge gained from her years in Europe and was coaching , mentoring a lot of the countries aspiring show jump riders from Junior to Grand Prix level. She was also an agent for importing and exporting showjumpers worldwide.

After 3 years back in New Zealand Sam headed back to Europe, still keen to make her mark in International showjumping, and she took her feisty little mare Estina with her, who had just won the World Cup Series in NZ.

She is now based in Arcachon, just south of Bordeaux at the beautiful property of showjumper Joelle and Philippe Dagut, where she is building up her team of showjumpers. Sam has a new stallion Check In and she is delighted with him, he is already putting in some very solid performances in 1.50 plus classes and is looking good future internationals. She has some exciting youngsters coming through, who with Estina are proving to be a formidable team.

Samantha joins the Shanghai Swans, making it the only all-female team on the League.